AUSTIN, Texas – The third-ranked Texas Longhorns will host the 16th-ranked Clemson Tigers in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff on Saturday, December 21, at 3 p.m. CT. The game will take place at the iconic Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and will be broadcast on TNT/Max, featuring play-by-play commentator Dave Pasch, analyst Dusty Dvoracek, and reporter Taylor McGregor.
This marks Texas’s second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff, having previously reached the semifinals in 2023 against the second-seeded Washington Huskies at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Longhorns have maintained an impressive streak of 11 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the CFP rankings since October 31, 2023. They debuted at No. 5 in the first rankings of the 2024 season on November 5, achieving their highest-ever position in the opening week of these rankings. Texas has consistently appeared in the top 25 for the past 15 rankings, accumulating a total of 27 appearances, with their highest ever ranking being No. 2. In the latest updates released on December 8, Texas was placed fourth in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls.
The upcoming clash will be the first-ever meeting between Texas and Clemson. The winner of this matchup will advance to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 57th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where they will face No. 4 seed Arizona State, the Big 12 Champion, on January 1, 2025, at noon CT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This game will be broadcast on an ABC/ESPN platform.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian has successfully led his teams to eight postseason appearances in his 11-year coaching career, which includes guiding Washington to four consecutive bowl games from 2010 to 2013 and leading USC to the Holiday Bowl in 2014. Notably, Sarkisian’s tenure has allowed him to build a strong competitive program.
For fans, ticket information has been made available. Texas Football season ticket holders have the opportunity to request their usual seating and parking arrangements for the game against Clemson. They can log into their accounts to purchase tickets by the deadline of December 9 at 4 p.m. CT. Unfortunately, there will be no general public tickets for sale. Fans can explore the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace, SeatGeek, for any available options.
In addition, donors of the Longhorn Foundation at the Tradition level or above ($1,500+) can request tickets for potential future CFP games for which the Longhorns may qualify. Deadlines for these requests also fall on December 9 and December 16 for subsequent matchups.
As Texas gears up for this thrilling encounter, there is palpable excitement among fans and players alike. The Longhorns aim to capitalize on their rich history and strong performances as they strive for a significant postseason run. This matchup not only showcases talented teams but also highlights the unity and passion that college football ignites among its supporters. The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown in Austin.